PITTSFORD, NY – The University of Rochester field hockey team picked up a non-conference victory on Wednesday evening, defeating host St. John Fisher University by a 3-1 score at Growney Stadium.
Rochester (9-5) trailed by a goal midway through the second period, but quickly responded with the tying goal from sophomore
Maeve Fogarty.
After intermission, the Yellowjackets netted two third quarter goals, one each from
Bella Militi and
Kayla Ballas to pull in front and reach the final scoring margin.
The loss drops St. John Fisher's record to .500, sitting at 6-6.
In the goals,
Kara Houston earned the win for UR, making three saves, while the Cardinals keeper, Sophia Trozzi, last week's NFHCA Division III Defensive Player of the Week, ended with six saves. St. John Fisher also made a pair of defensive saves, with Selena Emery and Sarah Woods keeping Rochester shots out of the goal.
Rochester maintained most of the possession throughout the night, ending with a 19-4 lead in shots. UR also dominated the penalty corner category, taking 12 to St. John Fisher's three over the 60 minutes.
The scoreless first quarter was a stout defensive effort for Rochester, as the Yellowjackets did not allow St. John Fisher to get a shot attempt. The first test of Trozzi came in the eighth minute off the opening corner of the game, but Fogarty's shot was saved, with a follow by
Zoe Conomikes getting sent wide.
Woods then denied
Jessica Unkel a goal with her defensive save in the tenth minute and the teams were knotted at 0-0 after the opening 15 minutes.
St. John Fisher was able to convert its first shot attempt into a goal at the 22:03 mark. After a UR failed clearance, Sam Choate moved the ball up the right side and sent a cross into the middle of the circle where Mary Kate McPhee took a one-timer sweep shot, directing the ball inside the right post and past Houston for her fourth score of the season.
UR's Fogarty responded two and a half minutes later. After a pair of corners didn't yield a score, Fogarty gained possession after a steal and dribbled into the circle along the left wing. The sophomore took a hard backhand shot from six yards that deflected off a defenders stick and into the cage, evening the match at 1-1.
After intermission, the tie game did not last long, as Militi scored her fifth of the season just 52 seconds into the third quarter. Her score came after a corner shot by Unkel was stopped in front and sat near the goal line. The UR senior forward tapped in the goal, recording her fourth score in the last four contests.
In the 39th minute, Conomikes saw her shot from in close on the left side trickle past Trozzi in the St. John Fisher goal, but Emery came up with a defensive save keeping the margin at one goal for the time being.
Less than a minute later, Fogarty took possession near midfield and streaked up the center of the pitch, eventually making her way into the circle. She pushed a pass up in front and through several Cardinal defenders to Ballas who shoveled a backhand shot into the cage. The goal was Ballas' first score of her career, spanning 48 games.
The third quarter ended with the Cardinals again not getting a shot attempt off, as Rochester sat 15 minutes away from victory.
Five minutes into the fourth, Rochester kept applying the offensive zone pressure, leading to three straight chances. First,
Anya Arseneau took a low, hard shot from the right wing off a corner. The saved shot ricocheted over to
Delainey Hebble who had her attempt stopped by Trozzi. A third follow-up chance during the possession by Conomikes was slipped wide.
During the 55th minute, St. John Fisher transitioned to their offensive zone, with Lily Humphrey firing back-to-back shots on goal, but Houston had clean looks at both attempts, clearing both away for saves, keeping the margin at two goals.
Rochester allowed just one corner and no shots the rest of the way, earning the victory, its sixth in the last seven games.
Up next for the Yellowjackets is a league contest against Union College at home on Friday evening at 4 pm.
